As the Microsoft Xbox makes the jump to delivering content in 4K, Hurrairah bin Sohail talks with the integrator tasked with using it to create an immersive presentation space about the challenge of delivering 4K video transmission.
Technology keeps moving forward
and integrators have to adapt.
With regards to video, the move
from standard definition to full
HD is complete. AV professionals
are now looking forward to the shift to 4K
resolution.
Walk the aisles of any AV exhibition and you
will see a number of 4K video transmission
products throwing around words and phrases
such as “uncompressed”, “zero latency”, “visually
lossless” and much more. Add in the minefi eld of
different technology considerations such as frame
rates and colour composition and you have realise
that deploying 4K video systems is no easy task.
There is also the main problem of the dearth
of 4K content for consumers that needs to be
tackled.
This problem however is being slowly chipped
at. Content in native 4K resolution is becoming
more prevalent. The release of the Xbox One X
by Microsoft, which will output content in 4K
resolution is a big step towards making 4K a
viable consideration for consumers.
At present, the number of 4K projects in the
AV world is low. Alex Smyth from Credible Audio
Visual Systems (CAVS) says: “4K rooms are a
rarity. The topic comes up in initial meetings
with clients because people are aware of 4K, but
the reality of 4K is that it is not a great fi t for
the corporate sector. You don’t want to present
a spread sheet in 4K because the resolution
actually hinders readability. But the real problem
is that current devices in the corporate sphere,
laptops and operating systems, do not output in
4K. Shifting to a 4K system would necessitate
having to upgrade your entire fleet of devices.”
That being said, CAVS was engaged by
Microsoft to deliver 4K video transmission and
audio to match in its Microsoft Xbox room at its
1 Epping Road facility in Sydney, Australia.
Smyth says: “Microsoft has been our client
for seven to eight years, in fact since they fitted
out this location. We have worked on delivering
a number of multi-purpose and offi ce spaces.
The previous Xbox room was done four years
ago and now they wanted to upgrade the space
to accommodate the new Xbox One X which
delivers content in 4K resolution.”
Smyth explains the scope of the project: “The
room encompasses six standalone Xbox stations
plus the main display with the focus being on the
Xbox running 4K content and laptop presentation.”
Regarding the design for the project, Smyth
comments: “Microsoft employs an American
consultant who takes care of the design for
its California facilities. This consultant came
up with the design for the Xbox room and a
local contractor, which was us, was assigned to
integrate and deliver the project. We were given
an equipment list and design and that was it.
Usually Microsoft also dishes out the control
codes and the programming but that was not
needed for this project.”
He continues: “Design wise, the project was
three quarters of the way there. The quarter that
was left was just tweaks and additions. We didn’t
change the design, we just made alterations to
make it work while retaining the essence.”
This project was the fi rst time CAVS worked
on delivering 4K 60Hz video. Smyth says: “4K
was the biggest challenge for us. We’ve done 4K
30Hz projects before for videowalls and we have
never had any problems with that. But the jump
to 4K 60Hz was new. The new Xbox’s preferred
resolution is 4K 60Hz. Once it switches on it does
a quick handshake and if it doesn’t like what it
sees it just doesn’t output 4K and drops straight to
1080p. So the 4K 60Hz transmission was crucial.”
The Xbox One X serves as the source for the
video feed. From it, native 4K 60Hz 8-bit video
is fed into an iMag Systems transmitter via
HDMI. From there the video is carried via Cat6
shielded cable across to the equipment rack to a
corresponding iMag Systems receiver. From here
the signal is fed into a Denon AV receiver. Video
output from the Denon is the sent to a Digital
Projection 7000LM 4K projector, mounted with a
Chief bracket, with the help of an iMag Systems
transmitter and receiver. A Screen Technics 180-
in projection screen is used in tandem with the
projector. For the standalone Xbox stations,
Samsung 4K display screens are employed.
The iMag Systems products were specifi ed by
the consultant. Smyth says: “In reality, there are
not a lot of products that could have worked
for this project. We tried some of the alternatives
from the other manufacturers but nothing really
worked flawlessly.”
The integrator ran into some issues when
deploying the video transmission system.
Smyth narrates: “Originally, we couldn’t get the
projector to work on 4K. As soon as we connected
the Xbox to it, it would just fail and be unable
to display a signal. We upgraded everything to
the latest firmware and that helped but we were
still having issues. The signal would come in and
out intermittently. I contacted iMag Systems
and asked how we could pull the EDID from the
projector. As soon as we got the EDID stored as a
custom file on the transmitter everything worked.”
With regards to audio, the core requirement was
the provision of Dolby Atmos sound. The Denon
AV receiver chosen to manage inputs and outputs
was selected with the requirement in mind. Audio
in the room is provided by Sonos speakers.
As the project neared completion, wireless
presentation and a lectern were added. For
wireless presentation, a Microsoft wireless
presenter was brought in and it enabled smart
device displays to be mirrored on the projection
screen via Miracast.
For the lectern, a fl oorbox was cut and all
the relevant inputs were provided. An Extron
USB bridge was included to ensure Skype
functionality. Audio is captured by an AKG
microphone while a Panasonic PTZ camera
is used for video capture. Williams Sound IR
hearing augmentation is also provided.
A Crestron control processor
is used to control the AV
systems and a wireless touch
panel with a wall dock has
been provided.
In conclusion, Smyth says:
“This project was relatively
straightforward. The design and
specifi cation required no major
changes. We just needed to tweak
a few things such as switching
the originally specifi ed Yamaha
receiver for one from Denon
since the former is not available
in Australia and changing the
model for the Samsung panel for
the same reason.”